Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Wednesday, August 10, 2022
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Keeff Felty Outlines 2023 Farm Bill Priorities from National Association of Wheat Growers
- OSU's Dr. Laura Goodman Provides Strategy for Optimizing Forage Growth in Dry Conditions
- OSU Research Aims to Save Billions for Beef Industry
- Chile- A Rising Market for U.S. Pork
- Joni Nash Urges Women in Rural Communities to Pursue their Passions
- Oklahoma CattleWomen Distributed Scholarships and Recognized Beef Advocacy Contest Winners
- K-State Official Urges Drivers to be Alert in Rural Areas
- Retained Ownership? OSU's Mark Johnson Explains All
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Keeff Felty Outlines 2023 Farm Bill Priorities from National Association of Wheat Growers
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I got the chance to visit with the Treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers, Keeff Felty, of Southwestern Oklahoma about NAWG’s part in the 2023 Farm Bill conversation.
“We finalized our policy at our annual meeting in the first part of March at the commodity classic and we subsequently followed up with a zoom summer meeting in June and prioritized the top ten things from each of our policy committees that we were going to pursue in this next farm bill,” Felty said. “Most recently, we have sent a letter to the principal- they call it the four corners- the chairman, and the ranking member of the House in the Senate Ag committees expressing what our priorities are for the upcoming farm bill and getting started on the process because it is just a little over a year until this one expires and we are either going to get a new one or possibly an extension. That is yet to be determined.”
In conjunction with that, Felty said NAWG will be having a fly on September 12-14 where member states will be invited to take part in preparatory work and to get started on the process.
The number one priority when talking to the House Ag committees, Felty said, is preserving crop insurance.
“We are looking at increasing the reference price for our ARC/PLC payments- PLC more in particular for wheat- and we realize that would require an increase in baseline and some other things, but we are trying to get it more in line with cost production and that is one of our other big components,” Felty said.
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization working to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization, OKFB advocates for farmers and ranchers at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. With leadership events, supporting our state’s agricultural youth and connecting consumers with agriculture, Farm Bureau promotes and sustains Oklahoma agriculture in numerous ways. Join with OKFB today by becoming a member at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.
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OSU's Dr. Laura Goodman Provides Strategy for Optimizing Forage Growth in Dry Conditions
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As dry conditions persist, many producers are struggling with sustaining their usual cow herd numbers. In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with Oklahoma State University Extension Specialist for Rangeland and Ecology, Dr. Laura Goodman, about pasture and range management strategies to optimize forage growth for the cow herd.
“With the patch burning, we are just burning one portion of the pasture at a time,” Goodman said. “We are allowing those animals to have access to the whole pasture immediately following the burn. Because of the regrowth that happens after the burn and the really high-quality forage that regrows, those animals are really attracted to that area.”
Burning one area at a time, Goodman said the animals can then be moved around and will naturally select the recently burned area to graze. By grazing the recently burned areas, other parts of the pasture are left alone so that forage can be stockpiled for a couple of years if needed, and can be utilized during drought for grazing, she added.
“We know that the fire can help to stimulate some hormones in that plant that increases budding and tillering, so they grow more when they are burned versus when we only graze them,” Goodman said. “The main thing that is limiting our forage production in Oklahoma is woody plants and trees taking over areas that weren’t forests or woodlands previously. Historically, that is what happened across Oklahoma is that it burned really regularly. That was what killed our Eastern redcedar and kept it from growing in areas that were prairies.”
Burning is not only extremely important for the productivity of rangelands for livestock producers and the livelihoods of rural communities, Goodman said, but it is also important for many species of wildlife.
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OSU Research Aims to Save Billions for Beef Industry
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Scientists in the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences are working hard to stop the waste of billions of dollars of beef each year.
The U.S. beef industry loses $3 billion annually to meat discoloration. When beef is brown on the surface, it is discounted in price, and extensive discoloration leads to people throwing nutritious food in the trash.
Why does meat turn brown?
Most people associate the bright, cherry red color of meat with freshness, but brown discoloration doesn’t mean your beef is bad. The discoloration is simply beef reacting to long-term exposure to oxygen.
When oxygen attaches to the protein myoglobin in muscles, oxymyoglobin forms and gives meat a bright cherry red color. When oxymyoglobin continues to be exposed to oxygen, it turns into metmyoglobin. This process is called oxidation, which causes a chemical reaction similar to apples or potatoes turning brown when exposed to air.
What’s been done?
Gretchen Mafi, professor of meat science in the animal and food sciences department, conducted research using oxygen scavengers, small iron pouches that can be placed inside the bags used for beef retail transportation. The iron pouches remove oxygen, and therefore, lengthen the shelf life of the meat.
OSU scientists did not invent this method of packaging, said Mafi, but they have been testing the method for a private company to determine its effectiveness. In recently completed research, beef maintained its bright, red color for up to 23 days after being packaged with this process.
Along with the research, Morgan Pfeiffer, assistant professor of animal and food sciences, has been studying how long it takes meat to reach varying levels of discoloration and what people consider too much discoloration.
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For our farmers who have either- always have had cotton on their farms- or those who have more recently have added the fiber crop to their operations- we have a daily report heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk!
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
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Chile- A Rising Market for U.S. Pork
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The NPB international market development task force traveled to Chile last week on a market diversification trip.
The task force met with global industry leaders to promote U.S. pork in Central and South America. They also visited a U.S. pork processing facility, toured the Port of San Antonio (Chile) where imports come into the country and tasted U.S. pork at a Santiago restaurant.
Chile was the 11th largest U.S. pork market in 2021 with exports valued at $111 million, which equates to about 70 million pounds of pork.
In-country visits like this are an opportunity to promote the high quality of U.S. pork to importers.
The results of this trip will inform a market diversification study being conducted by Gira, an independent market research firm.
Click Here to learn more about U.S. pork exports to Chile.
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network weekdays-
if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click below for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays and KC Sheperd on RON.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.
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Joni Nash Urges Women in Rural Communities to Pursue their Passions
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Farm Director, KC Sheperd, sat down and talked with Joni Nash after she spoke at the Women in Ag Conference in Oklahoma City last week. Nash talks to Sheperd about inspiring women to find their passion and influence their rural communities.
“We have things in our heart, and a lot of times we put it on the back burner because we are a caretaker, we are a wife, or we have kids,” Nash said. “There is always something vying for our attention.”
Nash said she encourages women to seek out those goals and dreams no matter the obstacles.
After serving the community of Pawhuska, Okla. for years, Nash is well acquainted with Ree Drummond and the imprint she has made on the community there. Nash said Ree is an excellent example of a woman who had a dream and went for it.
Another topic Nash talked about was our influence in our rural communities.
“It’s a family you didn’t get to pick,” Nash said. “You are doing life with people, and you will see them daily, so you better get along.”
Guarding yourself against the pushback you will receive from individuals in your community, Nash said, is critical to avoid becoming “burned out". Nash said there are individuals in communities who will always have something negative to say. She calls them “cave people.”
Nash aid once you identify these individuals, you can learn to listen to them but not let them steal your joy.
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Oklahoma CattleWomen Distributed Scholarships and Recognized Beef Advocacy Contest Winners
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Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. Distributes Annual Scholarships:
The Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. distributed its 2022 scholarships at the Oklahoma Cattle Convention, July 22 and 23 in Norman, Okla. The inaugural Nancy Buckminster Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Riley Luginbill of Orlando, Okla. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a full-time college student who is an active and productive member of the Oklahoma Collegiate CattleWomen (OCCW). Luginbill is studying agricultural education at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where she will also serve as treasurer this year for the OCCW.
The J.B. and Betty Smith Scholarship is awarded annually to two high school seniors, one male and one female. This year’s award recipients were Landry Freeman of Marlow, Okla., and Sophie Varner from Bristow, Okla. Freeman will attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University to pursue biomedical science this fall. Varner plans to attend OSU this fall studying agricultural communications and agribusiness. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Finally, the Oklahoma CattleWomen Scholarship is given to a full-time college student who is seeking a degree in an agriculture or an agricultural-related field of study. This scholarship was awarded to Charlcie Gatewood of Welch, Okla. This is a $1,500 scholarship. Gatewood is currently attending OSU studying biochemistry and molecular biology.
Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. Recognize Beef Advocacy Contest Winners:
The Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. recognized the winners of the 2022 Oklahoma Beef Advocacy Contest during the Oklahoma Cattle Convention, July 22 and 23 in Norman, Okla. The contest, that took place in April, is a statewide competition put on by the OCW and is open to Oklahoma youth grades 5th – 12th who compete in two age divisions.
The results of the 2022 Oklahoma Beef Advocate Contest, in the senior division(Pictured Below) are, first place, Morley Griffith of Shawnee; second place, Bridger Arrington of Mulhall, and third place, Blake Janssen of Amber. In the junior division(Pictured below under the Seniors), first place was Jade McPeak of Checotah; second place was Kade Henrichs of Okarche and third place was Kaitlin Adams of Amber.
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K-State Official Urges Drivers to be Alert in Rural Areas
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The leader of a program that promotes safety on the farm and in rural areas is encouraging drivers to remain alert in areas where farm equipment is likely to be on the roads.
Tawnie Larson, the state’s coordinator of the Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) program at Kansas State University, said accidents between vehicles and farm machinery is more likely to happen during planting and harvesting time because more equipment is likely to be on the roads.
“Most accidents are preventable,” Larson said, noting that a 2016 study administered by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration found that human error accounts for 94% to 96% of all auto accidents.
Collisions between farm equipment and passenger vehicles can result in pricey repairs to vehicles and equipment, but in a worst case, also result in loss of life. According to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, there have been more than 10 fatalities and 30 serious injuries since 2012 on Kansas roadways involving passenger vehicles and farm equipment.
“Many accidents include passenger vehicles rear-ending machinery as it travels on the roadways or misjudging the width of equipment,” Larson said. “Farmers do not like to drive machinery on the roads, but sometimes it is required to get equipment from one field to another.
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Retained Ownership? - Part 1 with OSU's Mark Johnson
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Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner." Today, Johnson is talking about factors to consider when marketing your cattle during the drought.
The impacts of drought are leading some to re-consider marketing alternatives for calves. Lower beef cow inventories now indicate higher value of calves, yearlings and fed cattle in the future. If you have traditionally marketed weaned calves or yearlings and are considering retained ownership through finishing in order to be selling at a later endpoint (in a more favorable market), consider the following:
1. Most fed cattle (approximately 75%) are sold with price determined on a carcass value basis. How does this work? Your pen of live finished cattle are harvested, carcasses are weighed, USDA Yield and Quality Grades are assigned. Optimum combinations of Quality and Yield Grades result in more $ value per pound of carcass weights sold. Price docks occur if carcasses are too light or too heavy.
2. Owning cattle through finishing comes with certain risks: death loss, health issues, market volatility and opportunity cost on the money you have invested until marketing.
There's more- click on the Blue Button below for Mark's comments.
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OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
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Today's First Look:
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
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Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices were lower- Choice Beef was down $1.51 and Select Beef was down $1.16 on Tuesday 08/08/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had a final total of 7,006 head on Monday, August 8, 2022
Compared to last week: Feeder steers unevenly steady. Feeder heifers steady to 3.00 higher. Steer calves unevenly steady. Heifer calves steady to 3.00 higher. Demand moderate to good. Quality average to attractive. Supply included several nice angus cattle offered that sold to good demand.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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OKC West in El Reno had a run of 2,500 head for their Tuesday calf run on August 9th.
Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 10.00-14.00 higher, over 500 lbs 2.00-4.00 higher. Demand very good for light weight weaned calves, good for heavier weights.
For the yearling sale happening today (August 10th)-
OKC West is expecting 6,500
2,600 HEIFERS @ 9:00 AM
3,900 STEERS @ 1:00 PM
Click on the button below for details of the trade as compiled by the USDA Market News Service.
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Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures - click below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
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Okla Cash Grain:
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture- The report available after the close of the Futures Trade for that day.
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Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster and Editor
KC Sheperd, Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Reagan Calk, Farm News and Email Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
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Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and is a big reason why Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity dives into these stories, bringing you stories covering rural life, agriculture, energy, healthcare, tourism, and politics affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
KC Sheperd visits with Dakota Moss of Livestock Risk Services. When the pandemic hit in 2020 the cattle markets along with the rest of the world suffered. Many farmers and ranchers altered their marketing plans on crops and livestock to try and prevent a loss in the down Covid markets. This led to cattle being held months longer than planned hoping for a better market. Unfortunately for many farmers and ranchers they had no choice but to sell much heavier cattle into a down market. Resulting in a lower $/cwt price and profits lost. Sheperd and Moss discuss some alternative options for producers with the Livestock Risk Protection program.
Search for Road to Rural Prosperity and subscribe on your favorite Podcast platform.
To hear this podcast, you can click here or tap below:
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Union Mutual Insurance, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update.
For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
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God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
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Tim West
President/General Manager
Rural Oklahoma Networks
405-317-6361
***************
Mike Henderson
Director of Sales
405-615-4922
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KC Sheperd
Farm Director
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405-443-5717
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Ron Hays
Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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